Pregnancy, birth and early parenting – explained clearly
Clear, evidence-based articles covering early pregnancy, body changes, birth preparation, recovery, babywearing and early development.
So you can understand what’s happening, what’s normal, and what to do next — at every stage.
Use these buttons to skip to the category pages, or scroll down to see the latest post in each category
Start here: early pregnancy (weeks 4–12)
The first few weeks of pregnancy can feel inconsistent, intense and difficult to interpret. Symptoms change, come and go, and don’t always match what you expected.
These are the posts people search for most when something doesn’t quite feel right in the First Trimester.
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I’m Pregnant – What Do I Do Now? Your Choices From the Very Beginning
Just found out you’re pregnant? Here’s what you actually need to do next – plus the maternity care choices, first appointments and early pregnancy support you might not realise are available in the UK.
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Going on holiday in the first trimester: flying, food, heat and everything else you need to know
Found out you’re pregnant after booking a holiday? From flying and hot weather to food, swimming, excursions and healthcare abroad, here’s what to think about when travelling in the first trimester — and the practical adjustments that can make your holiday much easier.
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When should I tell people I’m pregnant?
There isn’t one perfect week to tell people you’re pregnant. Whether you’re wondering when to tell your partner, family, friends or work, this guide will help you think about who you want around you during your pregnancy and make the decision that’s right for you.
Pregnancy symptoms and body changes
When your body feels different — heavier, tighter, more intense — and you’re not sure what’s expected or what needs checking.
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How does the uterus actually sit in the body during pregnancy? Why posture, pressure and baby position change how pregnancy feels
A lot of pregnancy symptoms start making more sense once you can picture where the uterus actually is. From early bloating and needing the toilet more often to rib pressure, posture changes and baby position, the uterus is growing within an already busy part of the body. Understanding where it sits helps explain why pregnancy can feel so different from the very beginning.
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Why heat feels unbearable in late pregnancy (and why the third trimester feels so much harder in hot weather)
Heat in late pregnancy can feel relentless. Many people notice dramatically worse swelling, breathlessness, pelvic pressure, sleep disruption and exhaustion during hot weather in the third trimester. This explains why heat feels so much harder at the end of pregnancy, what’s happening physiologically, and what actually helps during a heatwave.
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Why summer heat feels unbearable in early pregnancy (and why symptoms get worse)
Heat can feel unbearable in the first trimester — even before pregnancy looks obvious. Many people notice worse nausea, dizziness, exhaustion, sleep disruption and breathlessness during hot weather. This explains why early pregnancy changes heat regulation so much, what’s happening physiologically, and what actually helps during a heatwave.
Birth Partners
Birth partners deserve more than “just be supportive”. Explore practical, evidence-based guidance that explains what to do, when to do it, and why it matters.
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How to be a birth partner for a friend: what you need to know before labour
Has a friend or sister asked you to be their birth partner? Here’s what the role actually involves, what to discuss before labour and how to prepare to support them through birth.
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Antenatal classes for dads: what do dads actually need to know before labour?
If you’re going to be the birth partner, your antenatal preparation matters too. Here’s what dads actually need to understand, practise and be ready to do during labour, birth and afterwards.
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Second-time birth partner support: what partners need to relearn before the next birth
Experience helps, but it can also create assumptions. Learn why second-time birth partner support means approaching each labour with fresh understanding, not memories of the last one.
Pregnancy pain and movement
Pain, tension, or discomfort that doesn’t quite match what you’ve been told to expect — and what actually helps.
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One-sided pain in early pregnancy: common causes at 4–8 weeks and when to get checked
One-sided pain in early pregnancy can feel worrying. Learn what commonly causes it between 4–8 weeks and when it needs attention.
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Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy with hypermobility explained
What is pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy? Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy with hypermobility often doesn’t come out of nowhere. It builds gradually, then suddenly starts affecting how you walk, move and trust your body. This guide explains why pelvic pain is more common in hypermobile pregnancy, what it actually feels like, and what helps…
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Quadratus lumborum (QL) pain in pregnancy: why it happens and how it affects birth
Quadratus lumborum pain in pregnancy often shows up as one-sided lower back pain. Learn why the QL muscles tighten, how they affect pelvic movement and baby’s position, and what helps.
Preparing for birth
Understanding how labour works, what helps in the moment, and how to move through it without second guessing everything.
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TENS machine for labour: does it work and is it worth using?
I used a TENS machine during both of my labours and loved it. The research is less enthusiastic. So why do I still recommend TENS to almost everyone I teach? Let’s look at what the evidence actually says, how TENS fits into labour, and why I think it’s worth having in the toolbox.
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Home Birth After an Instrumental Birth: Rachel and Anna’s Lister Birth Story
After her first birth at Lister Hospital ended with a Kiwi ventouse, Rachel went back over what had happened and planned her second birth at home. Anna arrived in their Welwyn Garden City downstairs loo, just as the home-birth midwife reached the front door.
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Gestational Diabetes and Induction at Lister Hospital: A Real Birth Story
A real Lister Hospital birth story about gestational diabetes, changing birth options, pressure to induce from 38 weeks, and what happened when induction finally began.
Birth Stories
Real birth stories from families I’ve taught and supported, sharing what actually happened, the decisions they made and how their births unfolded.
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Giving Birth at Lister Hospital: Laura and Elodie’s Positive Birth Story
Laura left Lister Hospital at 1cm dilated and returned around an hour later fully dilated. Her positive birth story includes a membrane sweep, a TENS machine that never made it onto her back, and knowing enough about birth to make the decisions that worked for her.
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Fast Second Labour and Home Birth: Suzy and Oliver’s Welwyn Birth Story
After her first baby arrived unexpectedly at home, Suzy planned a home birth for her second. She still wasn’t sure she was in labour that morning. At 1.20pm she was 6cm. Oliver was born 40 minutes later.
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Home Birth After an Instrumental Birth: Rachel and Anna’s Lister Birth Story
After her first birth at Lister Hospital ended with a Kiwi ventouse, Rachel went back over what had happened and planned her second birth at home. Anna arrived in their Welwyn Garden City downstairs loo, just as the home-birth midwife reached the front door.
Postnatal recovery and early parenting
The part no one really prepares you for — feeding, recovery, and figuring out what your baby actually needs.
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Baby sleep development: what’s normal in the first year?
Baby sleep changes rapidly throughout the first year. Learn what is normal for newborn sleep, when circadian rhythms develop, and why babies wake frequently during the night.
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Baby vision development: what babies can see and when
Baby vision develops rapidly throughout the first year. Learn what babies can see at different ages, how eyesight changes over time, and simple activities that support healthy visual development and learning.
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Baby’s sensory development – vestibular system
The vestibular system helps babies develop balance, coordination, body awareness and movement skills. Learn how this important sensory system develops and discover simple activities that support healthy development throughout infancy.
Hypermobility in pregnancy and birth (HSD / hEDS)
When your body doesn’t quite follow the “expected” patterns — and standard advice doesn’t fully apply.
From joint instability to fatigue and positioning, this is about understanding what’s happening in your body and how to work with it through pregnancy and birth.
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Fast labour with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD): Gemma’s Lister Hospital birth story
Gemma expected two weeks of maternity leave before meeting her baby. Instead, her waters broke outside a pub after work and, just hours later, she gave birth at Lister Hospital. Her story explores pregnancy and birth with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), rapid labour and why understanding your own pregnancy matters.
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POTS pregnancy and dizziness with hypermobility
Why standing up in pregnancy can suddenly feel impossible with POTS, dysautonomia or hypermobility Pregnancy dizziness with POTS or hypermobility often feels far more intense than the “normal” light-headedness people talk about. Blood volume changes, relaxed blood vessels, heat intolerance, fatigue and joint instability can all make standing, showering and everyday movement much harder. This…
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Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy with hypermobility explained
What is pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy? Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy with hypermobility often doesn’t come out of nowhere. It builds gradually, then suddenly starts affecting how you walk, move and trust your body. This guide explains why pelvic pain is more common in hypermobile pregnancy, what it actually feels like, and what helps…
Babywearing
How to carry your baby comfortably, safely and in a way that works for your body and your day-to-day life.
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BabyBjörn Mini review: a babywearing consultant’s honest opinion
I’ve fitted the BabyBjörn Mini with many newborns and keep seeing the same fit problems. Here’s what I think of it as a qualified babywearing consultant.
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Best newborn baby carrier? Why I prefer the Izmi to the Ergobaby Embrace
Looking for the best baby carrier for a newborn? As a babywearing consultant, I regularly fit newborns in different carriers. Here’s why I prefer the Izmi Baby Carrier to the Ergobaby Embrace — particularly for fit, adjustability, temperature and supporting smaller babies.
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Can you babywear in hot weather? Summer babywearing tips
Wondering whether it’s too hot to use a sling or baby carrier? Learn how to dress your baby, choose the right carrier, spot signs of overheating, and stay comfortable while babywearing in warm weather.
Birth stories
Real experiences of pregnancy and birth — including different paths, challenges and outcomes.
These stories give context to everything you’ve read elsewhere.
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Giving Birth at Lister Hospital: Laura and Elodie’s Positive Birth Story
Laura left Lister Hospital at 1cm dilated and returned around an hour later fully dilated. Her positive birth story includes a membrane sweep, a TENS machine that never made it onto her back, and knowing enough about birth to make the decisions that worked for her.
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Fast Second Labour and Home Birth: Suzy and Oliver’s Welwyn Birth Story
After her first baby arrived unexpectedly at home, Suzy planned a home birth for her second. She still wasn’t sure she was in labour that morning. At 1.20pm she was 6cm. Oliver was born 40 minutes later.
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Home Birth After an Instrumental Birth: Rachel and Anna’s Lister Birth Story
After her first birth at Lister Hospital ended with a Kiwi ventouse, Rachel went back over what had happened and planned her second birth at home. Anna arrived in their Welwyn Garden City downstairs loo, just as the home-birth midwife reached the front door.
Latest articles across pregnancy, birth and early parenting
Browse the most recent posts across early pregnancy, body changes, birth preparation and life with a new baby.
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BabyBjörn Mini review: a babywearing consultant’s honest opinion
I’ve fitted the BabyBjörn Mini with many newborns and keep seeing the same fit problems. Here’s what I think of it as a qualified babywearing consultant.
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Best newborn baby carrier? Why I prefer the Izmi to the Ergobaby Embrace
Looking for the best baby carrier for a newborn? As a babywearing consultant, I regularly fit newborns in different carriers. Here’s why I prefer the Izmi Baby Carrier to the Ergobaby Embrace — particularly for fit, adjustability, temperature and supporting smaller babies.
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Giving Birth at Lister Hospital: Laura and Elodie’s Positive Birth Story
Laura left Lister Hospital at 1cm dilated and returned around an hour later fully dilated. Her positive birth story includes a membrane sweep, a TENS machine that never made it onto her back, and knowing enough about birth to make the decisions that worked for her.